With the Stanley Cup Final starting on Wednesday night, we at Too Many Men on the Site thought it would be nice to get some opinions from some of the writers on who they think will win, and why.
Without further adieu, here are our picks.
Ansel Halle, Staff Writer
Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Western Conference supremacy was the story of the regular season this year in the hockey world. In fact, four of the top five teams in the league were from the Western Conference, though the Boston Bruins did edge out the Anaheim Ducks by one point to win the Presidents Trophy. In my opinion, the West has also been the dominant conference throughout these playoffs.
I’ve watched games in every single series played thus far, both East and West, and it seems like the Western Conference games were always more intense, more physical, and more enjoyable to watch. I’m not exactly pulling all of this out of thin air either, as there isn’t a single player from the Eastern Conference in the top 10 in postseason scoring.
The L.A. Kings have had to play against better teams than the Rangers have throughout the regular season and playoffs, and I don’t believe New York will be ready for the intensity of the Kings. Another point I’d like to make is that the Rangers have played against some fairly soft goalies in the three rounds they’ve played so far.
In round 1, they were up against Ray Emery, who has always been a playoff flop, and he wasn’t anything special this year. Round 2 held the hardest challenge for New York when they faced Marc Andre Fleury. Fleury played well in the 2nd half of the series, but he wasn’t up to snuff with the goalies that L.A. has faced. The Eastern Conference Finals would’ve held a greater challenge if Carey Price hadn’t been injured early in the series.
After that the Rangers had to face a determined but unexperienced goaltender in Dustin Tokarski, and the win came much easier than it should have, had Price been playing. I predict that the Kings will win the Stanley Cup in no more than six games.
Cindy Crawford, Staff Writer
The New York Rangers and the Los Angeles Kings have summed up this year’s Stanley Cup Final into a classic East Coast style vs. West Coast style of hockey. The East Coast is a seemingly rougher, tougher and what I consider an old fashioned style. The Kings have made it through the Western Conference by being fast and tireless while struggling in the net.
The question is, will speed and endurance outlast roughness and strong defensive tactics. I have to say, I’m cheering for the old fashioned “Original Six” style of the Rangers but my prediction is that speed will prevail and so will the Kings in six.
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Nicholas Carafa, Staff Writer
Live Feed class=inline-text id=inline-text-2Blake Wheeler's Broadway Calling: Why He Chose the Rangers /
Puck drop at the Staples Center is still hours away ,and people are already writing off the New York Rangers in this year’s rendition of the Stanley Cup Finals. Their opponent, the Los Angeles Kings, are coming off three impressive seven-game series victories, but at this point, there’s no time to be tired when the Cup is just within reach.
When the playoffs started back in April, the Rangers were an afterthought, maybe a long shot to even make it past the second round. But this dark horse continues to gallop on. Both teams have had rallying points on their way to the Cup finals. The Kings overcame a 3-0 hole to the San Jose Sharks in the first round, while the passing of Martin St-Louis’ mother seemed to amplify the brotherhood that hockey player are thought to possess.
My pick for the winner isn’t based on logic or statistics, but more on compassion. After everything St-Louis has been through, while also managing to play on a heavy heart, the game has taken a back-seat in my mind and the true character of these players are rushed into the limelight when the off-ice realities have come into fruition. Accompany that with Henrik Lundqvist, maybe one of the best goaltenders in the league that has won everything you could possibly win, except the Stanley Cup. I’m no Mark Messier and there isn’t any guarantee coming from my end, but from the human-interest perspective, I’m more inclined to see the Rangers hoisting the Cup.
Rangers in 6.
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Lauren Burg, Staff Writer
Ever heard of the phrase “Defense wins championships”? Well, this saying has rung especially true throughout the 2014 postseason, as both the New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings have been extremely stingy defensively. Led by a rejuvenated Ryan McDonagh, the Rangers held Claude Giroux to single digits in points, effectively shut down league MVP Sidney Crosby and almost completely stifle the Montreal Canadiens playoff MVP P.K. Subban. That lightened the load on goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, who proved during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals that overworking him could end up being costly. It also allowed the team’s offense to find its groove, something that took awhile but finally occurred.
Live Feed class=inline-text id=inline-text-3LA Kings goaltending could be better than expected in 2023-24 /
anchors one of the best back ends in all of hockey, yet still manages to chip in offensively, evidenced by his 16 points in 21 games. He leads the league in ice time during these playoffs as well, averaging nearly 28 minutes per game. If for some reason he has a slight off game, his teammates are quick to help him out. Veteran
, whose play in Game 7’s is other-worldly, is LA’s fourth best scorer with 18 points, and has a team-high plus-11 rating so far this postseason.
With that being said, no team can get this far without an elite netminder. One who thrives in pressure-packed situations. New York’s Lundqvist and Los Angeles’ class=inline-text id=inline-text-16 Kings in 6.
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Nick Godin, Staff Writer
A lot of times when predicting the winner the Stanley Cup Final, you choose the better team to take home the Cup. In this case, statistically, and arguably in a performance base standpoint, the LA Kings are considered the better team. The Kings finished the season with 46 wins, 28 losses, and eight overtime losses. The Kings charted 100 points, scoring 206 goals in the season while only allowing 174 goals against. The New York Rangers, who also had a pretty good regular season, finished the year with 45 wins, 31 losses, and 6 overtime losses. The Rangers charted 96 points, scoring 218 goals while allowing 194 goals against.
So there you have it. The LA Kings had the better regular season, which means they’ll win the Cup, right? Wrong.
It doesn’t always work that way. In reality, this series could go either way. However, since there are so many people writing off the Rangers early on, here’s why they’ll actually bring the cup to New York.
As many know, some of the Rangers players have been hit with off-ice coincidences this year. 38-year-old winger Martin St. Louis‘ mother passed away months ago from an unexpected heart attack. Not only that, but Rangers centreDominic Moore has been dealing with the sudden passing of his 32-year-old wife, Katie Moore, who passed away in January of 2013 with a rare stomach and liver cancer. Moore was on an 18-month leave of absence, and returned to the NHL this year.
The Rangers have showed many times that, when sudden debacles appear, they, as a team, can band together. When awful things like St. Louis and Moore are dealing with happen, there forms a sense of urgency to finish off what’s been started. It’s no doubt that the New York Rangers want to win the cup for St. Louis and Moore, and it goes without saying that they’ll do whatever it takes to give it to them.
With all that being said, I repeat that it’s very difficult to correctly predict the Stanley Cup Champion. However, my prediction is that the New York Rangers will win the Stanley Cup in 7 games.
Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Mike Hrankiwskyj, Staff Writer
They say “styles” make a series. On one coast you have a puck-possession team filled with speed, depth, and an all-world goalie. On the other coast you have, well, the same exact thing. The Kings and Rangers have overcome their share of adversity these playoffs. Whether it’s been 0-3 series deficits, game seven road victories, or personal tragedy, both teams have shown a resiliency that should lead others to not be surprised they are the final two combatants ready to take center stage Wednesday night.
While the Kings are favorites to win, the Rangers have its one trump-card in its back pocket to play…goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. “The King” is looking for his first Stanley Cup title and has played like a man possessed these playoffs. He has become the great equalizer these playoffs helping to stifle the potent offensive attacks of the Flyers, Penguins, and Canadiens. Even when his team’s offense struggles with consistency, the one thing they know they can rely on is the King in net. Sure, it doesn’t hurt playing being a defense led by Ryan McDonagh, Dan Girardi, and Marc Staal, but even when all else fails and chaos ensues in his end, Lundqvist lends the calming presence to his squad and instills the confidence they need to not only believe they can compete with the Kings, but they can beat them outright and win their first title in 20 years.
But, despite all his greatness and heroics, Lundqvist hasn’t faced a team quite as deep and physical as Los Angeles. Sure there is no Crosby or Malkin to defend, but just about every other forward from number one through twelve can impact a game on any given night. The Kings’ forwards are big, physical, nasty, and know how to put the puck in the net. They’ve survived the Western Conference minefield, and after a gauntlet of Sharks, Ducks, and Hawks, anything short of facing the Soviet Red Army will feel like a break. Couple that with Jonathan Quick looking to silence his critics for an average playoff performance so far, and it’s easy to see why the Kings are favorites.
It’s tough to pick against the hot goalie in Lundqvist, but the Kings are unlike any team the Rangers have seen so far. Expect close games and probably an overtime game or two, but at the end of the day the Kings are too much for the Rangers to handle. Kings in 5.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Patrick Helper, Editor
For a few reasons, I have the Kings taking home the Cup in six games. First, I believe experience will prove to be key in this series, and the Kings are only a season removed from playing in the finals. Second, I do not believe the Rangers’ style of play can keep up with the Kings and the Western Conference Style of play. Finally, the personal reason. I can’t stand the Rangers. To be fair, I really don’t like the Kings either, but seeing the Rangers with the Cup and all the media gushing over it would drive me nuts.
Mike Majeski, Editor
Jonathan Quick set high expectations in 2011-12, and he has yet to come close to matching that performance. Therefore, the Kings have relied on their offense throughout the playoffs so far.
I see the Los Angeles offense regressing back to its regular season production levels and Quick having to step up. What we will get is a goaltender duel between Lundqvist and Quick. Instead of a quick four or five-game series, the Rangers will drag the Kings to another Game 7 showdown.
